HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 21: Actor Ed Norton attends the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival Kick-Off party at the W Hollywood on March 21, 2011 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Chris Weeks/Getty Images for 2011 Tribeca Film Festival)

Photo: Chris Weeks, Getty Images For 2011 Tribeca Fi

HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 21: Actor Ed Norton attends the 2011 Tribeca...

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Maui: Thesun sets on Maui's Kama'ole Beach -- actually three beach parks in Kihei, all good for families with young children.

Photo: Ron Dahlquist

Maui: Thesun sets on Maui's Kama'ole Beach -- actually three beach...

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BELLS BEACH, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 17: Adam Robertson of Australia surfs against Joel Parkinson of Australia in the Final round of the Rip Curl Pro on April 17, 2009 in Bells Beach, Australia. (Photo by Lucas Dawson/Getty Images)

Native plants

Hawaii: On Palm Sunday, images of gracefully swaying trees may come to mind, but only one is endemic here: the loulu, a fan palm with about 20 species - many now rare - found only on the island chain. Those coconut palms, above? They're a "canoe plant," meaning Polynesian voyagers introduced them to the islands some 1,500 years ago.

Holiday

South Africa: Passover, which begins Monday night, won't be passed over here. According to the Jewish Virtual Library, the country has by far the largest Jewish population in Africa (and the 12th largest of nations overall): about 76,000 in 2006. The South Africa Jewish Museum is built on the grounds of the country's oldest synagogue, dating to 1863, in Cape Town; its congregation was founded in 1841.

Holiday

American Samoa: On April 17, 1900, U.S. Navy Capt. B.F. Tilley raised the American flag on Sogelau Hill. But don't expect the traditional Flag Day celebrations today: Everything shuts down on Sundays in Samoa, so official festivities - scaled down due to the poor economy - were moved to April 16 this year.

Sporting event

Torquay, Australia: The 50th anniversary Bells Beach Easter Rally surfing competition, now part of the Rip Curl Pro series, takes over the bastion of Victoria boarders Tuesday through April 30, left. Pro men and women will compete on the waves; amateurs are welcome in the unofficial pub-crawling events. www.ripcurl.com.au.

Film festival

New York: The 10th edition of the Tribeca Film Festival will screen 93 movies - more than half making their world premiere - from Wednesday through May 1. Edward Burns' "Newlyweds," shot in the Lower Manhattan neighborhood, premieres April 30. www.tribecafilm.com

Currency notes

Sweden: While the country hasn't gone euro yet, its citizens have one less coin to carry around. As of last Sept. 30, the 50-ore coin - with 100 ore to the krona - ceased to be legal tender, making the smallest denomination in circulation the 1-krona coin (recently worth about 16 cents U.S.) The Swedish National Bank's helpful tip on what to do with leftover ore: Put them in your metal recycling bin.